Jon Kenny was a uniquely Irish cultural giant.
From a young age, Jon Kenny was drawn to the spotlight, instinctively understanding the power of storytelling and how he could connect with Irish audiences through music, song, comedy, and drama, and they responded enthusiastically.
A respected performer from his early years, it was the reaction to his creation of the comedy duo D'Unbelievables with Pat Shortt that catapulted him into the national consciousness.
The pair became a comic cultural force when their show One Hell of a Do hit the stage in the early 90s.
They brought their version of rural Ireland to the city audiences and the acclaim was quick.
Selling out night after night in Dublin and across the country, there was a raw truth and honesty to the show that captured audiences' imagination.
The die was cast, and Jon Kenny was recognised as a talented, relevant, and important part of Irish cultural life.
He became a regular guest on The Late Late Show, always receiving an enthusiastic welcome from audiences. His CV grew and grew, with impressive performances in comic productions, but he was equally recognised as skillfully portraying darker characters too.
He was funny, he was charming, and unafraid to speak honestly and movingly about his own personal battles with health along the way.
Today, his family told The Limerick Leader that: "Jon grabbed life and shook it as hard as he could, getting every ounce of fun, madness, and love from it."
Lucky us, we got front-row seats to enjoy it with him too.